Chinese auto brand Leapmotor plans to significantly expand its Australian model lineup over the subsequent few years, after it launches its debut model later this 12 months.
The mid-sized C10 electric SUV will launch in November, nevertheless it won’t be the brand’s only model locally for long.
Furthermore, Leapmotor Australia won’t limit itself to only SUVs and traditional electric vehicles (EVs).
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“We plan to cover 65 per cent of the Australian segments in the subsequent three years,” Leapmotor Australia CEO Andy Hoang told CarExpert.
“[We plan to] have as much as six models in the subsequent three years.”
That features the previously confirmed B10 compact electric SUV, which is able to slot in under the C10 when it arrives in 2025.
Also due in 2025 might be the brand’s first extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), which includes a petrol engine that acts as a generator as an alternative of powering the wheels directly, giving the vehicle greater driving range.
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C16
The primary Leapmotor EREV to reach in Australia is predicted to be the C10.
“After we start with all of the metro areas… I believe when that automobile gets here it allows us to essentially satisfy the needs of consumers who must travel longer distances so, I believe that’ll give us that next growth phase,” said Mr Hoang.
Beyond the B10 and C10, Leapmotor has a variety of models on sale in China.
While it has to date confirmed only SUVs for Australia, it says it would offer passenger cars as well.
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C11
“We’re not an SUV brand. We’re a brand that’s about bringing technology to many, many individuals,” said Mr Hoang.
“In the event you’ve seen Leapmotor, the products we’ve launched in China, we’ve got a small automobile, we’ve got a sedan, we’ve got greater cars, we’ve got SUVs.
“So the portfolio for us goes to be ‘how will we ensure that that we’ve got cars that may fit different needs in Australia, not only SUVs?’.”
Leapmotor this 12 months revealed a bigger SUV called the C16, which has yet to be confirmed for Australia.
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C01
This slots in atop the Leapmotor range, which also includes the C11 mid-sized SUV launched in China in 2021 and the C01 large sedan launched in 2023. Each are offered as electric vehicles or extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs).
There’s also the electrical T03 micro-car, which is being rolled out in Europe, where it’s being built at Stellantis’ Tychy, Poland plant.
The corporate hasn’t confirmed which models it’ll offer here beyond the B10 and C10, but Mr Hoang’s remarks suggest older vehicles just like the T03 won’t make the trip.
“We’re getting recent products designed for international markets, it’s not cars that you simply go, ‘Why are you bringing this minivan over? Vans don’t sell in Australia’,” said Mr Hoang.
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T03
“It’s not product that’s left over from China or old models, legacy models that they’re attempting to bring into Australia. It’s actually recent models created for the international market.
“We wish the latest. I believe the philosophy behind Leapmotor for us is to ensure that we bring that recent technology, at mass.”
The local arm may also profit from the brand’s rapid expansion globally, following the establishment earlier this 12 months of a three way partnership between Leapmotor and Stellantis called Leapmotor Australia.
“The good thing for us is that Leapmotor is supplying to a worldwide audience, so we’re ramping up to really go from one plant to a few plants,” said Mr Hoang.
“Which implies that Australia in the large scheme of things… our volume is so small that for us, to double our volume, triple our volume might be easy.”
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C10
While Leapmotor boasts it’ll have strong supply, it isn’t disclosing its sales targets. It says, nonetheless, that it would grow steadily and sustainably.
“We’re not aiming to be market leader. We’re not aiming to be second or third in the primary 12 months. We understand it takes time to construct a brand,” said Mr Hoang.
Leapmotor says that while it expects its C10 to be popular with rideshare drivers, its core market might be young parents aged 35 to 45. It also expects buyers to return not necessarily out of EVs, but out of combustion-powered mid-sized SUVs.
“The best way that we see this automobile is that folks won’t have a look at it like, ‘Oh it’s an EV, after which I’ll just have a look at all the opposite EVs’,” said Mr Hoang.
“It’ll be ‘what form of automobile do I would like to suit my lifestyle?’ after which they’ll go, ‘Oh, actually there’s an EV that’ll fit this too.’ It’s the reverse.”
Leapmotor doesn’t imagine its unknown name in Australia will hold it back.
“The primary query [customers may ask] is ‘Who’s Leapmotor? Why should I purchase into this story?’,” said Mr Hoang.
“That’s going to work against us. On the flipside, I believe [the fact] that folks don’t know us also allows us to have a possibility that they’ve an open mind to it, that there’s no preconceived legacy of ‘Oh it’s this, it’s that’.”
This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
